Who says christians don't produce good art. Article #1

Informal and random as it is. I wanted to share some art from a variety of backgrounds of art. Ive been inspired by some of these pieces and by this book I am reading called Imagine; a vision for christians in the arts.

"One of the greatest hinderances to the development of biblically informed mainstream art has been the perception that Christians should make "Christian art" and that "Christian art" is always explicitly religious. Understood this way, "Christian art" is not distinguished by a regenerated outlook on the whole of life but by a narrow focus on Bible stories, saints, martyrs and the individual's relationship with God." pg23

"Lack of Christians in the popular arts and the inferior quality of contemporary "Christian Art" had an effect on me as a teenager. Because its claims were ignored, Christianity appeared to be culturally irrelevant. Did this mean that Christians just couldn't tough it out in the "real" world? Did it mean that cultural expressions of Christianity could only survive when unchallenged, in the condoned off enclave of the Christian subculture?

 Because the work that bore the name Christian was often poor in quality and naive in understanding, Christianity by implication seemed insipid and uninspiring. How great was this God that allowed such work to represent him? How exciting was this life that seemed to perfer drabness to color, shallowness to complexity, security to risk?" pg12

Granted Ive only just started reading this book. Its an easy read by the way, I would encourage you to read it. I have felt the same way as the writer, especially as a teen. This is part of what todays church would call my "testimony". I have been dubbed "the artist" by people from every sector of my life. My teachers, peers, employers, friends, parents of friends have all pigeon-holed me as that melocoly, craftsy, and assumed I'd taken classes until told otherwise (I couldnt naturally be good). So when I was told that God was a creator I pigeon-holed him too. I am only just now discovering, somewhat through this book that I am not the only one that has done this.


What do you think? Do  a majority of Christians through their actions or through their art represent God in a negative light?

Random Examples:

 

Randomly found on www.gospelgraffiti.com

This is a photo taken by a really good friend of mine studying Photography and Journalism in South Africa . Her site is: http://booher.wordpress.com/

Another REALLY amazing Artist friend of mine, from New Mexico  - also a photographer. I can't cut and paste her work because its so professionally copyrighted on her website. But please DO check it out. Dannette Chappell.  http://www.danettechappell.com

Bell update, Community outreach, Human Trafficking

So we have officially been home for about a month on Wednesday. It feels selfish to live so comfortable. We, although we are looking, are getting by just fine without jobs. We have decided to stay with friends who are our parents age and recently empty nesters. Next Wednesday we are doing a presentation at our church. It will be the first of many we are hoping to speak at. If anyone hears of anyone hiring in the area call up or drop us an email, we've filled out dozens of applications at this point.

Yesterday Matt, and about 4 other guys went to Pittsburgh. They went with the intention to 'work with the homeless', and had set up a connection with a halfway house that helps people work their way off the street. Building relationships to encourage guys that want to honesty kick some habits, and addictions that have held them back. The brand new non-profit organisation they worked with was called "New Life Ministries." It looks like they will be -possibly- helping them build more housing in the future. From what Matt told me it looks like its a 9month program that just teaches responsibility within independence and looks like lived out daily. Stuff obviously you and I take for granted. Balancing a checkbook, over coming addictions, building healthy relationships, serving others first - you know the basics. It would be cool if we (as a community and church)could continue working with them. Im not posting this for the oppertunity to boast about my husband but to open up disscussion and say " hey if you wanna be part of active outreach oppertunies - give us a call." The harvest is plenty and the workers are few.

If you want to know more about how long we will be home or what our intentions are while we are here read http://http//drumsticksandpaintbrushes.blogspot.com/2009/10/from-red-soil-to-black.html scroll down to the "future" paragraph.

ON A 'NOTHER NOTE:
Continuing with the theme of the last post; below is a video from a branch of YWAM ministries (who Matt and I work with). Whom work to raise awareness about sex trafficking of children. Check them out: http://www.photogenx.net/sexandmoney/ I can guarantee that every photo taken on this site is originally done and directly associated to a story that can be told first hand. I've had friends do this program and left knowing they made their mark on the statistics. If the video above does not appear below click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjEFtjVMCHY

Movies, Media, and Missions

Before you say "wait a minute.. I thought this was a missions site about your travels and stuff." Well we are at home and as I brought up in the previous post.. part of our goal in the next 5 months back in PA is promoting missions awareness. It doesnt have to be boring or complicated.. -Heck, there are alot of resources out there. Lets utilize them! Below are movies that depict many issues on my heart and Im sure on God's heart over the past few months... awareness,... injustice,... what are we gonna do about it!?

Movies I would like to see:


Tsotsi
2005
IN Jo-burgh SOUTH AFRICA. After shooting a woman (Nambitha Mpumlwana) and driving off in her car, a ruthless thug (Presley Chweneyagae) is surprised to discover he isn't alone, kept company by a crying infant in the backseat. But through his efforts to care for the baby, he slowly rediscovers his capacity to love. Writer-director Gavin Hood helms this Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film, based on the novel by Athol Fugard.


Rabbit Proof Fence
2002
Australia's aboriginal integration program of the 1930s broke countless hearts -- among them, those of young Molly (Evelyn Sampi), Gracie (Laura Monaghan) and Daisy (Tianna Sansbury), who were torn from their families and placed in an abusive orphanage. Without food or water, the girls resolve to make the 1,500-mile trek home. Meanwhile, a well-intentioned tracker is trying to return the girls to the authorities.

Movies I would recommend:


END of the SPEAR
2006
Many years after his missionary father was speared to death at the hands of Waodani tribesmen, a young man (Chad Allen) returns to the Ecuadorian jungle to meet the native (Louie Leonardo) who murdered his father and learn the truth about his family's legacy. The result, in this film based on a true story, is a life-altering experience that brings him closer to the kin of his father's killer and impacts both of their lives forever.
Review: I would recommend this to anyone that isn't going to be quick to judge the cultural and religious intentions of this story. I was inspired by the grace, forgiveness, and strength implied in the plot. By the way this is a true story.


HOTEL RWANDA
2005
Amid the holocaust of internecine tribal fighting in Rwanda that sees the savage butchering of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children, one ordinary hotel manager (Oscar nominee Don Cheadle) musters the courage to save more than 1,000 helpless refugees. Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte and Joaquin Phoenix co-star in this powerful film -- often described as an African Schindler's List -- directed by Terry George.
Review: After meeting people that actually survived the holocaust in Rwanda.. I wanted to watch this again. The look in Don Cheadle's eyes throughout the movie is the same look I saw in the South African refugees. Do not watch if you have a weak stomach or heart.


BLOOD DIAMOND
2006
In war-ravaged Sierra Leone, diamond smuggler Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio) learns that a local fisherman (Djimon Hounsou) has stumbled upon a gigantic gem, and he offers to reunite the man with his family in exchange for the diamond. When Archer befriends a journalist (Jennifer Connelly) tracing "blood diamonds" that finance terrorist groups, he's faced with a choice between riches and humanity. DiCaprio and Hounsou each earned Oscar nods.
Review: This is quite a bit more romanticised than the rest of the selection here.. but not any less heart-wrenching and conviction. This began my curiosity for "fair trade". GOOGLE IT! Oh and side note Leonardo isn't that bad either,.. I was amazed at his accurate South African accent.

CHALLENGE TO THE CHURCH:






Just an idea to be part of something bigger:
Nothingbutnets.net (above) The United Methodist Church and the NBA paired up for a campain to fight against Malaria using misquito nets. Isnt that great? "SEND A NET SAVE A LIFE". "the Nothing But Nets campaign has engaged hundreds of thousands of individuals to help achieve the UN goal to end malaria deaths by 2015."




Movies and notes about them are from Netflix.com, and Ad campain photos found at 10thousanddoors.org
(United Methodist campain to make church a verb- liveing and active as we are called to (in the bible),uniting as people. Instead of just a "noun"- the building or place we go to.)